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The recently released movie “American Sniper” has launched a conversation in this country on the treatment of our veterans once they returned from combat activities. This includes veterans from WW II, Vietnam, etc. It’s a conversation that is overdue when you see the effects of soldiers suffering from PTSD and other injuries, some seen, some unseen.
In December, the Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to sell (donate) our unused Discovery Class RV Conversion vehicle to Hiring and Helping Our Heroes of Pinal County Incorporated for one dollar.
The RV had been purchased by the county in 2007 for use in the Maricopa area as a mobile public health clinic. We received a grant from the Gila River Indian Community to purchase the vehicle. In 2012, the county opened a permanent health clinic in Maricopa making the RV obsolete.
Since that time the RV sat unused in our fleet yard.
Conversations between our Public Health Director and the Director of ” Hiring and Helping Our Heroes of Pinal County” led to this donation.
There are approximately 38,000 to 40,000 veterans in our county. During the winter months, that number increases dramatically when the winter visitors arrive. There is only one Veteran’s Administration office for the county located in Casa Grande. That means a lot of our Veterans have a long drive to receive the services they earned.
The good people at “Hiring and Helping Our Heroes of Pinal County” have high hopes for the services this RV can bring to our Veterans throughout the entire county. The RV is to bring such services as medical and mental healthcare, offer access to a Veteran’s Administration representative along with bringing a navigator to help users access a variety of services.
I am pleased that we were able to help this dedicated group of volunteers looking to give our Veterans that extra help they need. One thing I did ask – is that when they repaint, or cover the van to their logo and colors, to please put on there that this is a gift from the people of Pinal County and Gila River Indian Community. I hope that you will be as pleased as we were to help bring better services to those who need it.
Pete Rios
Pinal County Supervisor & Vice Chairman Dist. 1
Pinal County Supervisor Pete Rios
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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